Leo Cullen: Munster loss leaves Leinster with no margin for error

Leinster's Head Coach Leo Cullen and Munster's Head Coach Clayton McMillan shake hands. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

Leo Cullen knew. Not that Leinster would be turned over so convincingly by Munster in Croke Park on Saturday, but he could see that the day would come when the compound effect of so many years being under the thumb would prompt a poke in the eye.

The Leinster head coach brought it all back to 2009 after this 31-14 defeat. To the epochal Heineken Cup semi-final in the very same ground and the performance and the win that turned this rivalry irrevocably in his province’s favour after years of subservience.